Cutlery sharpener



CUTLERY SHARPE'NER Filed Feb. 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WilliamF. Lumison Sept. 23, 1958 w. FPLAMISON CUTLERY SHARPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Feb. 18, 1958 INVENTOR William F. Lamison United States PatentOfiice 2,852,895 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 CUTLERY SHARPENER William F.Lamison, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh-Erie Saw Corporation,Pittsburgh, Pa., 2! corporation of Delaware Application February 18,1958, Serial No. 715,897

7 Claims. (Cl. 51-135) This invention relates to cutlery sharpeners andparticularly to a cutlery sharpener of the type disclosed in my PatentNo. 2,677,218 and my copending application Serial No. 602,3 67, filedAugust 6, 1956. I have improved the cutlery sharpener in respect ofmaintaining the endless sharpening element in its normal path duringoperation of the cutlery sharpener and preventing the endless sharpeningelement from assuming an operative path displaced laterally from itsnormal path. I provide for automatically returning the endlesssharpening element to its normal path if it begins to move laterally toeither side.

My cutlery sharpener, like the cutlery sharpenersof my said patent andcopending application, comprises an endless sharpening element, pulleysabout which the endless sharpening element is trained and means fordriving the endless sharpening element. The driving means may be a motorand one of the pulleys may be fixed to the motor shaft. Desirably theoperative reach of the endless sharpening element is the reach betweentwo other pulleys. Guide means are provided for properly positioningrelatively to the sharpening element cutlery being sharpened, and theoperative reach of the endless sharpening element is angularlyadjustable relatively to the guide means to adapt the cutlery sharpenerfor sharpening articles of cutlery of different shapes.

I provide a lever pivoted for turning movement transversely of thegeneral plane of the center line of the endless sharpening element and Iprovide for one of the pulleys-preferably one of the two pulleysdefining the operative reach of the endless sharpening elementto becarried by the lever at one side of the lever pivot. The leverpreferably has at the opposite side of the lever pivot means positionedto be engaged by the endless sharpening element when the endlesssharpening element becomes some what laterally displaced from its normalpath, whereby the lever is turned on its pivot, shifting the pulleycarried by the lever so as to return the endless sharpening element toits normal path. I

The lever preferably has at one side of the pivot a bracket having armspartially embracing one of the pulleys, and a shaft on which that pulleyis mounted is desirably supported by those arms. The lever has at theopposite side of the lever pivot the means positioned to be engaged bythe endless sharpening element as above described.

The two pulleys which define the operative reach of the endlesssharpening element are preferably mounted in a unit which is tiltable atditferent selected angles to adapt the cutlery sharpener to sharpencutlery of different characteristics, and the aforementioned lever ispreferably pivoted to the unit for turning movement transversely of thegeneral plane of the center line of the sharpening element and carriesone of the pulleys defining the operative reach of the endlesssharpening element.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention 2 In theaccompanying drawings I have shown a preferred embodiment of theinvention in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cutlerysharpener; Figure 2 is an end view of the cutlery sharpener as viewedfrom the end at which the endless sharpening element and the casingcontaining it are disposed, the end cover of the casing being removed,the endless sharpening element being indicated by a heavy chain line;

Figure 3' is an elevational view of the unit comprising the two pulleyswhich define the operative reach of the endless sharpening element andthe guiding meansfor the cutlery being sharpened;

Figure 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical crosssection of the unit shown in Figure 3 but with the side plate near theeye removed and the side element of the cutlery guide near the eye alsoremoved;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the unit shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional 'view taken on theline VI-VI of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the lineVII-VII of Figure 3; Figure 8 is a vertical transverse cross-sectionalview taken on line VIII-VIII of Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the lineIX-IX of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, my cutlery sharpenercomprises a supporting structure desig nated generally by referencenumeral 2 to which support ing feet 3 of rubber or other suitablematerial are attached. The supporting structure 2 comprises a motor basedesignated generally by reference numeral 4 which comprises two spacedapart upstanding portions 5. An electric motor 6 is provided, the motorbeing of the type comprising parts maintained in assembly by elongatedconnecting members such as bolts extending generally parallel to themotor shaft. The motor parts are main-' tained assembled by four bolts 7one of which (the lower left-hand bolt 7 of Figure 2) projects at bothends from the motor and enters the portions 5 of the motor base 4, theprojecting ends of the bolt acting as trunnions for the motor. The lowerleft-hand bolt 7 viewingFigure 2, or the bottommost bolt 7 viewingFigure 1 may be threaded at its ends and cap nuts 8 may be applied. Thusthe motor is pivotally mounted in the supporting structure by one of thebolts maintaining the integrity of the motor, the mounting beingeccentric to the center of gravity of the motor so that, viewing Figure2, the motor attempts to swing downwardly and toward the rightrelatively to the lower left-hand bolt 7 under the action of gravity;The supporting structure 2 carries a bumper 9 which may be of rubber orother suitable material which is positioned in the path of swingingmovement of the motor about the axis of the lower left-hand bolt 7viewing Figure 2' but present below the operative position of the motoras will pres will become *apparentas the following descriptlon of apresent preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

ently be explained. When the endless sharpening element presently to bedescribed is removed the motor rests against the bumper 9 and the normalposition of the motor is approximately maintained. In Figure 2 the motor6 is shown in dotted lines in operative position slightly spaced fromthe bumper 9.

A handle 10 for carrying the cutlery sharpener in one hand is carried bythe top of the motor and has its grip portion 11 generally in verticalalignment with the center of gravity of the sharpener. The handle 10 hasa connecting portion 12 connected with the top of the motor and the gripportion 11 extends generally toward the endless sharpening elementpresently to be described and has its extremity nearer such element freeas shown. By means of the handle 10 the cutlery sharpener may be easilycarried by one hand. The motor may be electrically connected with asource of electric current by conductors 12a. The current to the motormay be turned on or off by a switch 121:. V

The motor shaft is designated 13 and has fastened to its extremityadriving pulley14. Between the motor and the pulley the shaft 13 passesthrough an elongated slot 15in an upstanding casing 16 forming part ofthe supporting structure 2 of the sharpener. When the sharpener islifted by the handle the motor 6 pivots generally upwardly about theaxis of thelower left hand bolt 7 viewing Figure 2 until the shaft 13engages the upper extremity of the elongated slot 15, such engagementlimiting the extent of upward movement of the motor relatively to thesupporting'st-ructure. The amp'litud'e of movement of the motor betweenits extreme upperlposition with theshaft 13 in engagement with the upperextremity of the slot 15 and its extreme lower position in engagementwith the bumper 9 is not substantially greater thanabout an inch; thusunder all conditions the normal position of the motor is approximatelymainire The casing 16 carries a stud 18 whose axis is horizontaLand.parallel to the axis of the motor shaft. The stud 18 may be connectedwith the casing in any suitable manner, such, for example, as shown ineither my aforementioned patent or my copending application.Pivotallymounted on the stud 18 is a unit designated generally byreference numeral 20 which comprises means presently to be describedforguiding the endless sharpening element designated by referencenumeral 44. The unit 20 which is shown in Figures 3-9 comprises a block21 of aluminum having a transverse bore 45 receiving the stud 18 andhaving in its bottom a vertical threaded bore 22. A sleeve 23 isdisposed below the vertical threaded bore 22 and is coaxial therewith.The bottom surface of the block 21 is slightly recessed at 24 to receivethe upper end of the sleeve 23. A screw 25 having a head 26 extendsthrough the sleeve 23 and is threaded into the vertical threaded bore22.A spring washer 27 is disposed next the screw head 26 and a plate 28 isdisposed above and in contact with the spring washer, the plate28'having therein a bore 29 of sufl'icient size to receive the shank ofthe screw 25. Above the plate 28 is aylever 30 having therein an opening31 surrounding the lower end of the sleeve 23. When the screw 25 istightened into the threaded bore 22 it maintains the assembly to theblock 21 of the sleeve 23, the lever 30, the plate 28, the spring washer27 and the screw itself, the lever 30 being capable of limited turningmovement about the axis of the screw 25.

The lever 30 carries at one side of the pivot 25 a bracket 32 havingarms 33 partially embracing one of the pulleys 34 and a shaft 35 onwhich the pulley 34 is rotatably mounted. Thus the pulley 34 is carriedby the lever 30 so as to be rotatable under the action of the endlesssharpening element 44 when trained about the pulley.

At the end of the lever 30 opposite the end at which the pulley 34 iscarried there is provided a yoke 36 which embraces the endlesssharpening element 44 with minute clearance at each lateral edge of theendless sharpening element so as to be engaged by the endless sharpeningelement when the endless sharpening element becomes somewhat laterallydisplaced from its normal path, where by the lever 30 is turned on itspivot 25, shifting the .pulley 34 carried by the lever so as to returnthe endless sharpening element to its normal path.

The pulley which cooperates with the pulley 34 in defining the operativereach of the endless sharpening element 44 is the pulley 37 which iscarried by a shaft 38 stationarily positioned in the unit 20. The unit20 has opposed side'plates 39 and 40. The shaft 38 is carried by theside plate 39 and has its outer end supported in the side plate 40.

The cutlery sharpener may be otherwise the same as that shown in my saidcopending application and I shall not describe in detail all portionsthereof which are the same as those of my said application. The casing16 has arcuate slots 41 and 42 through which the shaft 38 and a stubshaft 38a carried by the side plate 39 project to be connected with atilting lever 43 having a handle 46. Tilting of the lever 43 tilts theunit 20. The lever 43 hasa downward extension 47 having thereinanarcuate slot 48 receiving a threaded pin to which is threaded aclamping nut 49 to maintain the lever 43 and hence the unit 20 indesired angular position. There is also provided a cutlery guidedesignated generally by reference numeral 50 which may be the same asthat of my said copending application to assist in positioning thecutlery to be sharpened relatively to the operative reach of the endlesssharpening element 44 which may be a flexible band having abrasiveapplied to its outer surface.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be distinctly under stood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:

1. A cutlery sharpener comprising an endless sharpening element, pulleysabout which the endless sharpening element is trained, means for drivingthe endless sharpening element and a lever pivoted for turning movementtransversely of the general plane of the center line of the endlesssharpening element, one of the pulleys being carried by the lever at oneside of the lever pivot, the lever having, at the opposite side of thelever pivot, means positioned to be engaged by the endless sharpeningelement when the endless sharpening element becomes somewhat laterallydisplaced from its normal path, whereby the lever is turned on itspivot, shifting the pulley carried by the lever so as to return theendless sharpening element to its normal path.

2. A cutlery sharpener comprising an endless sharpening element, pulleysabout which the endless sharpening element is trained, means for drivingthe endless sharpening element and a lever pivoted for turning movementtransversely of the general plane of the center line of the endlesssharpening element, one of the pulleys being carried by the lever at oneside of the lever pivot, the lever having, at the opposite side of thelever pivot, a yoke embracing the endless sharpening element with minuteclearance at each lateral edge of the endless sharpening element so asto be engaged by the endless sharpening element when the endlesssharpening element becomes somewhat laterally displaced from its normalpath, whereby the lever is turned on its pivot, shifting the pulleycarried by the lever so as to return the endless sharpening element toits normal path.

3. A cutlery sharpener comprising an endless sharpening element,pulleys. about which the endless sharpening element is trained, meansfor driving the endless sharpening element, a lever pivoted for turningmovement transversely of the general plane of the center line of theendless sharpening element, the lever having at one side of the pivot abracket having arms partially embracing one of the pulleys, and a shafton which the pulley is mounted supported by said arms, the lever having,at'the opposite side of the lever pivot, means positioned to be engagedby the endless sharpening element when the endless sharpening elementbecomes somewhat laterally displaced from its normalpath, wherebythe'lever is turned on its pivot, shifting the pulley carried by thelever so as to return the endless sharpening element to its normal path.

4. A cutlery sharpener comprising an endless sharpening'eleme'nt,pulleys about which the endless sharpening element is trained, means fordriving the endless sharpening element and "a lever pivoted for turningmovement transversely of the general plane of the center line of theendless sharpening element, one of the pulleys being carried by thelever at one side of the lever pivot, the lever having, at the oppositeside of the lever pivot, means positioned adjacent another of thepulleys about which the endless sharpening element is trained so as tobe engaged by the endless sharpening element closely adjacent suchpulley when the endless sharpening element become somewhat laterallydisplaced from its normal path, whereby the lever is turned on itspivot, shifting the pulley carried by the lever so as to return theendless sharpening element to its normal path.

5. A cutlery sharpener comprising an endless sharpening element, pulleysabout which the endless sharpening element is trained, means for drivingthe endless sharpening element, a unit in which two of the pulleys aremounted defining the operative reach of the endless sharpening element,the unit being tiltable at different selected angles to adapt thecutlery sharpener to sharpen cutlery of diiferent characteristics, and alever pivoted to the unit for turning movement transversely of thegeneral plane of the center line of the endless sharpening element, oneof the pulleys defining the operative reach of the endless sharpeningelement being carried by the lever at one side of the lever pivot, thelever having, at the opposite side of the lever pivot, means positionedto be engaged by the endless sharpening element when the endlesssharpening element becomes somewhat laterally displaced from its normalpath, whereby the lever is turned on its pivot, shifting the pulleycarried by the lever so as to return the endless sharpening element toits normal path.

6. A cutlery sharpener comprising an endless sharpening element, pulleysabout which the endless sharpening element is trained, means for drivingthe endless sharpening element, a unit in which two of the pulleys aremounted defining the operative reach of the endless sharpening element,the unit being tiltable at diflerent selected angles to adapt thecutlery sharpener to sharpen cutlery of different characteristics, alever pivoted to the unit for turning movement transversely of thegeneral plane of the center line of the endless sharpening element, thelever having at one side of the pivot a bracket having arms partiallyembracing one of the pulleys defining the operative reach of the endlesssharpening element, and a shaft on which such pulley is mountedsupported by said arms, the lever having, at the opposite side of thelever pivot, a yoke embracing the endless sharpening element with minuteclearance at each lateral edge of the endless sharpening element so asto be engaged by the endless sharpening element when the endlesssharpening element becomes somewhat laterally displaced from its normalpath, whereby the lever is turned on its pivot, shifting the pulleycarried by the lever so as to return the endless sharpening element toits normal path.

7. A cutlery sharpener comprising a supporting structure includinggenerally horizontally oriented pivot means, an endless sharpeningelement, pulleys about which the endless sharpening element is trained,means for driving the endless sharpening element, a unit in which two ofthe pulleys are mounted defining the operative reach of the endlesssharpening element, the unit being mounted on the pivot means so as tobe tiltable at different selected angles to adapt the cutlery sharpenerto sharpen cutlery of different characteristics, and a lever pivoted tothe unit for turning movement transversely of the general plane of thecenter line of the endless sharpening element, one of the pulleysdefining the operative reach of the endless sharpening element beingcarried by the lever at one side of the lever pivot, the lever having,at the opposite side of the lever pivot, means positioned to be engagedby the endless sharpening element when the endless sharpening elementbecomes somewhat laterally displaced from its normal path, whereby thelever is turned on its pivot, shifting the pulley carried by the leverso as to return the endless sharpening element to its normal path.

No references cited.

